Hidden Agemda (Kate Diamond Adventure) by Leighann Dobbs Read Free Book Online Page B

thieves are we?”
    They all laughed and Crowder gave the signal to the giant who turned off the light. The laser beams flicked on and Kate held out her box of Tic-Tac’s with the camera lens pointing to the room.
    “Mint?” she asked no one in particular.
    A few of them held out their hands and Kate tapped the little white oval mints into them, taking each opportunity to also click a picture of the laser beams.  
    “And now … I do believe dinner is served.” Crowder waved his hands in the direction of the lobby and the crowd followed him down the hall.

    ***

    The dining room was in an alcove next to the lobby. Kate wasn’t surprised to discover the long table was made of ice. She had to admit it was pretty. Little white lights inside the ice ran along the sides of the table giving it a subtle inner glow. Ice chairs covered in animal skins sat around the table.  
    They took their seats, Crowder at one end and Mr. Powell at the other. Kate ended up in-between Mrs. Powell and Mr. White, with Simon across from her. Carmen sat on one side of Simon and Mr. Nguyen on the other. Kate couldn’t help but feel a tug of worry at his red face and heavy breathing.
    “We specialize in collecting mostly art pieces,” Mrs. Powell was saying as one of the staff placed steaming bowls of soup in front of each of them. “What do you collect?”
    Kate’s stomach tightened as she looked at the older woman. She’d studied the dossier on Chyna Hunt and her grandfather and knew enough to discuss their collecting habits in general, but if anyone asked specifics, she might get tripped up. “I’m mostly a jewel and pearl collector.” Kate glanced down at the necklace she wore. “My grandfather is the one interested in this auction, though.”
    “Oh, and what might he be interested in?” Carmen cocked an eyebrow at Kate from her spot at the end of the table.
    Kate slapped a smug smile on her face. “Well, now I really don’t want to say. Considering you all might be competitors in the auction.”
    Beside her, Mr. White laughed and Kate turned her head to meet his red-eyed gaze. His pale skin was almost translucent.  
    “I think we all know your grandfather has a taste for the unusual,” he said.
    Kate didn’t reply, she just tilted her head in response, and then focused on her soup. She ladled the silver spoon into the brown broth, stirring up a chunk of carrot, celery and a piece of light meat. Chicken? She took a taste. No, rabbit. It was delicious and, judging by the slurping sounds coming from everyone else, Kate wasn’t the only one who thought so.
    The conversation turned to discussion of the favorite piece in each person’s collection and then to some of the more famous stolen art, artifacts and jewels as they made their way through courses of venison, greens with strawberries and finally a crème brûlée. Kate wondered how they had cooked such a fantastic meal—did the ice hotel have a full kitchen hidden somewhere, complete with ovens and stoves?
    Kate noticed most of the others had their wine glasses filled many times while she nursed her one glass. She kept quiet, thankful she could act the part of the stuck-up recluse and no one would find it odd.
    Jon Nguyen stood as the plates were being cleared. He coughed several times and then sucked in a wheezy lungful of air.  
    “Gentlemen, Ladies.” He bowed in the direction of the table. “I’m an old man in need of lots of rest and the day has been tiring. I hope you will excuse me after this most excellent meal.”
    Crowder stood. “But of course, I hope you have a restful night.”
    Nguyen nodded again, turned and left, dragging his oxygen tank after him.
    Glad that Nguyen had broken the ice, Kate tossed her napkin on the table and stood. “And I must also retire to my room. I want to take advantage of the day tomorrow to capture some wildlife on film.” Chyna’s reputed hobby as a wildlife photographer was the perfect excuse for Kate to get away from the